I started my trip on 4th July night. I got the Kataragama bus & it leaves at 10.00 p.m. I reached to Kataragama around 4.00 a.m. First I went to Keri Vehera & Kataragama Devalaya. After that I came to Tissamaramaya Temple.

I left you all with a beautiful sunset over the Parakrama Samudra. The room was comfortable and AC kept humming away as if trying to put us to sleep. We slept like logs until 5am. Getting up at that time is not appealing to many but for us, it’s something we’re now used to thanks to Ana. We got up and hurriedly got dressed coz we wanted to go to the bund of Parakram Samudra just before sun came up. We really wanted to have the reservoir to ourselves and feel the serenity and calmness in the morning.

Coming out of the hotel in a hurry, we almost bumped into the Doberman of the hotel. Thankfully Mr. Thomas warned us just in time and we escaped without a scratch. Just imagine having to come across a huge and fierce doggy in the dark. We drove fast to the bund while the early morning rays were coming out of their hide out. Having parked our car, we walked along the bund and surprisingly, there were quite a number of people out and jogging reminding us of Colombo walking paths. It was in a way a good scene as people are getting really health conscious.

When the Kingdom of Ruhuna was established it received many travellers and traders from Siam, China and Indonesia who sought anchorage in the natural harbor at Godawaya, Ambalantota. The ships or large boats these traders travelled in were called “Sampans” and “thota” means port or anchorage so the port where sampans anchor came to be known as “Sampanthota” (which is now known as Godawaya). After some time the area became to be called “Hambanthota”.

Kingdom of Magama which is also guarded by lord Katharagama is one of the most visited areas by Sri Lankans and most of the time they only manage to visit few places which are commonly known. First of all Hasitha’s report was the guide I used to plan my journey and succeeded with what I attempted in! Im not going to mention anything related to the history of Magama kingdom in detail since Hasitha has done a good job in his report! As the title says this is a summery on Kataragama, please do enjoy the images!

ruled by regional kings such as Mahanaga and Kawantissa. Archeological monuments scattered around which belongs to Anuradhapura era silently express its ancient glory. Buddhist heritage of Magama is centered around the four main stupas namely Tissamaharama chaitya, Sandagiri vehera, Yatala chaitya and Menik vehera.

Having following the Television series of the “Maha Sancharakaya” of Mr. Jackson Anthony we both decided to visit some of these historical sites on a visit to Kataragama on the long weekend of 23th to 25rg February 2013. The Ruhunu Kingdom was a provincial principality, came to focus only when King Detu Gamunu defeating King Elara and unifying the country in the early period of the Anuradhapura Kingdom.

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